The Best Museums to Visit in Las Vegas

Kink and sin, anyone? If that’s your cup of tea, the Erotic Heritage Museum is a must-visit. This venue is home to 24,000 square feet of eclectic erotic artifacts, exhibitions, facts, educational material, and art. They hold open-minded cultural events, lectures, and workshops throughout the year. It’s also home to the hilarious Puppetry of the Penis live show. This museum is easy to get to just east of The Strip behind The Fashion Show Mall and near Trump International Hotel. 

Want to take a break from vacation debauchery to learn something new? The National Atomic Testing Museum is a great place to consider. This historic venue is an excellent educational experience to learn about America’s nuclear weapons testing program. Items on display include nuclear reactors, atomic weapons, part of the Berlin Wall, and even pieces from the World Trade Center. Also featured at the NATM is info on UFO and alien culture. The museum is easy to get to for from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino or UNLV. 

What’s a trip to Las Vegas without selfie with celebs, Amirite? Madame Tussauds Wax Museum has ample wax celebs on displays including Khloe Kardashian, Captain America, Nicki Minaj, Shaq, Sandra Bullock, and Tupac. The space is also home to many events and gatherings including celebrity appearances and celebrations. Two spots worth exploring inside the museum are the Hangover Bar, where visitors and enjoy Hangover-themed drinks, and the Virtual Room, where guests can have their own alternate reality experience. The museum is in the heart of The Strip at the Venetian. 

Any visitor looking for a mellow, family-friendly day should explore DISCOVERY Children’s Museum. Located downtown at Symphony Park, this is a great place for kids to come play and learn in a fun and exciting way. Popular hands-on exhibits include Eco City, where little ones can get a taste of metropolitan life, and Toddler Town, where they can experience being a miner for the day. DISCOVERY is also a popular venue to host birthday parties and field trips. 

Easily one of the most popular landmarks in the city, Neon Museum is a must-visit while in town. Located downtown and within walking distance from Fremont Street, this museum is home to all the retired marquee signs from many iconic Las Vegas casinos and landmarks. The Neon Boneyard is also a popular spot for folks to have photo shoots, weddings, or to just take lots of selfies. Visitors can explore alone or opt for an hour-long guided tour. 

Located near the Neon Museum is the Mob Museum, the ultimate hangout for anyone who wants to experience all things related to organized crime. There is a variety of ways to learn about mob culture, including exploring interactive exhibits, artifacts, and even a crime lab. Guests can also dive back into the Prohibition Era by visiting and enjoying a beverage at the museum’s not-so-hidden speakeasy or at the location’s distillery. Keep in mind that anyone wishing to visit both the Mob Museum and the Neon Museum can get discounts on combination tickets. 

Gamers and game lovers, the Pinball Hall of Fame is worth visiting next trip to Las Vegas. Just east of The Strip on Tropicana Avenue, this family-friendly and thrifty locale is 10,000 square feet of vintage pinball machines ranging from the 1950s to the 1990s. There are also other novelty games visitors can explore while here guaranteed to induce nostalgia. Get your quarters ready too because all machines are working and can be played; some restored machines can even be purchased, although they might not make it past TSA. 

Who says scary activities are seasonal? At Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum, the horror is year-around. This museum is a terrifying experience with secret passages, scary hallways, and rooms that mirror many famous Hollywood horror films. It’s also home to famous and disturbing objects including the propofol chair from Michael Jackson’s death room, and the world’s most haunted object: the Dybbuk Box. Visitors beware: many employees and guests have reported seeing ghosts and many other unexplained occurrences while visiting and working. Also, anyone who wishes to enter must sign a waver. The Haunted Museum is downtown, near the Las Vegas North Premium Outlets and the Arts District. 

Weed is now legal in Nevada, what better way to celebrate than by smoking it learning all about it at the Cannabition Cannabis Museum. This immersive cannabis-themed experience is 21+, of course, and has art installations and exhibits celebrating all things related to the herb. This Museum is also home to Bongzilla, the world’s largest bong — if that’s not worth visiting, what is? Cannabition is inside the Neonopolis Complex at the Fremont Street Experience.

Also downtown, the Burlesque Hall of Fame is an award-winning museum that celebrates all aspects of the burlesque culture. There are exhibitions celebrating Dita Von Teese, a variety of history of about the art, and a collection of costumes, photographs, and props for fans to admire. If any visitors want to get frisky or risqué, they can also attend one of the weekly School of Striptease classes. Some include Bellydance for Burlesque, and Burlesque 101.